USB 2.0 or FireWire?

I Built myself a PC this Summer, and when i got the motherboard it came with a PCI Firewire card. So I was like "cool", when i get an iPod i can use the firewire. lol I also have USB2.0 and my question is. What would be better USB2.0 or Firewire? isnt the transfer rate of USB2.0 (480) and FireWire (400)

Use the search function. This has already been discussed.

Yeah, although Firewire is actually the faster solution. You can google "USB 2.0 vs Firewire" and come up with a lot of articles.

id use firewire

IF usb 2.0 is faster then use that!

If the firewire is on a PCI card, wouldnt that slow things down a bit? I know this is true for like video cards, where AGP is as fast as built in video, and PCI is slow to transfer the data over to the card, but does that hold true with this?

USB hits the CPU's data paths by definition of the technology. Firewire has it's own controller.

Remember There is a difference between theoretical maximum, and maximum.

Both can transfer at faster speeds than your computer can process (hence they don't achieve 100%). But if your interfering with your processing (like USB), you deminish your capabilities even more.

It's not that signifigant... but if your so concerned... firewire is your better bet.

Because it's more independant than USB, it's also more costly. That's why you can pickup a USB 2.0 card for a few bucks, but Firewire cards are still more expensive. Even firewire 400.

does firewire charge the ipod?

Yes, a 6-pin firewire port will charge the iPod (ie, not those crazy mini firewire ports Sony uses called iLinks). Also, people keep throwing around the USB 2.0 = 480, Firewire = 400 Mbps numbers. If you look at the specs for each you'll notice that you're comparing USB's peak burst speed (fastest it can possibly go), with Firewire's sustained transfer rate (the rate you will likely get). A Firewire connection will be faster for your iPod due to Firewire's greater sustained rate. You may get more use out of a USB 2.0 port, though, so that's a judgement call.

Firewire is going to be the better/faster solution. Also, you can charge an iPod with Firewire OR USB 2.0.

ldsguy, the PCI card will NOT slow down the connection. Even the older 33MHz/32-bit PCI bus provides up to 133MB/sec. That translates into 1064 Mbits/sec - so 2.5 times the required bandwidth of a firewire card.

K, thanks. I might consider getting a firewire card then, because my computer is slow and it sometimes only transfers at around 200-600Kb/s. It takes forever to put a large amount of songs on....

They do sell dual Firewire/USB cards.

More expensive... but very useful. 1 slot, can host both types. So you can decide what you want.

Both technologies support hubs for further expansion.

That would be my recommendation for anyone.

WoW thnx Guys for the info, sorry i didnt search oops

i will be using USB 2.0

I got a dual card with 3 USB 2.0 ports and 2 FireWire (6-pin, 400) ports for $26 including shipping from newegg dot com. Search on Zonet. Works great - but warning, if you have Windows XP SP2, do not install the driver on the CD. Froze my system at startup. Just let XP do the new hardware wizard and you'll be set.

blue

If you have firewire, use it. I have it on my laptop and plan on using it when (if) I get my iPod ...

[quotef492b0e928="blue"]I got a dual card with 3 USB 2.0 ports and 2 FireWire (6-pin, 400) ports for $26 including shipping from newegg dot com. Search on Zonet. Works great - but warning, if you have Windows XP SP2, do not install the driver on the CD. Froze my system at startup. Just let XP do the new hardware wizard and you'll be set.

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Never
Never
Never

use drivers off a CD. Always download the latest from the manufacturer's website. The CD's 90% of the time are outdated.

BB whats good baby 8)